US20050198741A1 - Inflatable support members and structures including the same - Google Patents
Inflatable support members and structures including the same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050198741A1 US20050198741A1 US11/070,677 US7067705A US2005198741A1 US 20050198741 A1 US20050198741 A1 US 20050198741A1 US 7067705 A US7067705 A US 7067705A US 2005198741 A1 US2005198741 A1 US 2005198741A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- sheet
- support member
- inflatable support
- inflatable
- seam
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
- A61G10/00—Treatment rooms or enclosures for medical purposes
- A61G10/005—Isolators, i.e. enclosures generally comprising flexible walls for maintaining a germ-free environment
Definitions
- This invention relates to inflatable support members and structures including inflatable support members.
- inflatable support members are used in structures such as tents.
- the inflatable support member often includes bends where the support member changes direction to establish the desired shape of a structure.
- Conventional inflatable support members, and the structures created from these support structures, often employ complex mechanisms to form and maintain bends in the inflatable support member.
- An embodiment of the invention is an inflatable support member having at least one tension point to establish a bend in the inflatable support member.
- the inflatable support member includes a first sheet and a second sheet sealed around their respective edges.
- a tension point is formed by enlarging the seam area where a bend in the inflatable support member is desired.
- Alternate embodiments of the invention include structures including the inflatable support member.
- An alternate inflatable support member includes a first sheet and second sheet, the second sheet having an elasticity less than that of the first sheet by using different materials, additional materials or stretching the second sheet.
- FIG. 1 is a top view of an inflatable support member
- FIG. 2 is an exemplary structure including inflatable support members
- FIG. 3 is a side view of an inflatable support member in an alternate embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a top view of the inflatable support member of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an inflatable support member in another embodiment.
- FIG. 6 depicts the inflatable support member of FIG. 5 inflated.
- FIG. 1 is a top view of an inflatable support member 10 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
- the inflatable support member 10 includes a first sheet 12 and a second sheet 14 joined along the edges at a seam 16 .
- the first sheet 12 and second sheet 14 may be made from a plastic, thermoplastic or woven/non-woven material laminated with thermoplastic, etc. Seam 16 joining the two sheets may be formed by applying energy through heat pressing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, impulse welding, etc.
- the sealed sheets 12 and 14 form an inflatable chamber.
- a one way inlet 20 may be used to inflate the inflatable support member 10 and an outlet valve 18 may be used to release fluid (e.g., air) from the inflatable support member 10 . It is understood that a two-way valve may be used to provide inflation and deflation of the inflatable support member 10 .
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary structure 100 formed using a plurality of the inflatable support members 10 .
- the inflatable support members 10 include bends located at the bend line 24 co-linear with the tension points 22 and 22 ′.
- Panels of thermoplastic material 102 are secured to the inflatable support members 10 by joining seam 16 to the panels 102 by applying energy (heat, RF welding, ultrasonic welding). Of course, an entire panel 102 or an edge of a panel may be left unsealed to provide for entry into structure 100 .
- the panels 102 may be transparent thermoplastic or other material.
- the structure may be of suitable size to contain a person to isolate the person from hazards or isolate others from the person (e.g., contagious disease).
- FIG. 3 is a side view and FIG. 4 is a top view of an inflatable support member 200 in an alternate embodiment of the invention.
- Inflatable support member 200 includes a plurality of inflatable chambers 202 joined at seams 204 .
- Chambers 202 are joined in a continuous fashion to define a closed structure as shown in FIG. 4 .
- the chambers 202 and seams 204 may be formed by joining sheets of thermoplastic material (e.g., heat pressing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding).
- the chambers 202 may be inflated with any fluid (e.g., air, water, gel, compressed gas) through a common inlet 212 .
- Inter-chamber channels 210 provide fluid communication between chambers 202 .
- the inter-chamber channels 210 may be formed by applying a release coating to the thermoplastic sheets prior to joining the sheets. The release coating prevents adhesion of the sheets and defines inter-channel chambers 210 .
- the inter-chamber channels 210 may be formed using a heat press having a pattern such that the thermoplastic sheets are not joined at the areas corresponding to inter-channel chambers 210 .
- the chambers 202 are arranged in a circle about a longitudinal axis 206 . It is understood that chambers 202 may be arranged in different shapes such a squares, ovals, ellipses, etc.
- the arrangement of the chambers around axis 206 provides inflatable support member 200 with substantial strength along the longitudinal axis 206 , and significantly less strength along a lateral axis perpendicular to axis 206 . This renders inflatable support member 200 useful in applications where lightweight, structural support is needed.
- FIGS. 5 and 6 depict another technique for producing an inflatable support member 300 with an arcuate shape to facilitate forming structures.
- the inflatable support member 300 includes two sheets of material 302 and 304 .
- the sheets 302 and 304 are thermoplastic or other plastic and/or woven/non-woven materials and are joined along their periphery (e.g., heat sealed, ultrasonically welded) to define an inflatable chamber.
- Sheet 304 has an elasticity less than that of sheet 302 .
- the elasticity of sheet 304 may be adjusted by pre-tensioning or stretching sheet 304 prior to sealing sheet 304 to sheet 302 . As shown in FIG. 5 , sheet 304 is stretched by a distance d.
- sheet 304 may be made from a material having an elasticity less than that of sheet 302 .
- Alternate methods may be used to provide different elasticity to sheet 304 including using materials with different durometers (second sheet has higher durometer than first sheet), using laminated materials, applying scrims to one or both of the first and second sheet, using oriented material with different stretch characteristics in different directions, etc.
- a pump 306 When assembled, a pump 306 is placed in fluid communication with the chamber defined by sheets 302 and 304 . Pump 306 is coupled to an inlet valve (e.g., one-way check valve) to the chamber defined by sheets 302 and 304 . When inflated, the lower elasticity of sheet 304 allows sheet 302 to expand more than sheet 304 thereby creating an arcuate inflated support member.
- an inlet valve e.g., one-way check valve
- sheets having different elasticity as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used alone or in combination with the tension points shown discussed with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 to control the shape of the inflatable support member upon inflation.
- Multiple inflatable support members may be coupled to define a support beam.
- the individual inflatable support members 10 or 300 may be joined end-to-end using a variety of sealing techniques such as heat sealing, ultrasonic welding, heat pressing, or impulse welding.
Abstract
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/549,738, filed Mar. 2, 2004, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- This invention relates to inflatable support members and structures including inflatable support members. Currently, inflatable support members are used in structures such as tents. The inflatable support member often includes bends where the support member changes direction to establish the desired shape of a structure. Conventional inflatable support members, and the structures created from these support structures, often employ complex mechanisms to form and maintain bends in the inflatable support member.
- An embodiment of the invention is an inflatable support member having at least one tension point to establish a bend in the inflatable support member. The inflatable support member includes a first sheet and a second sheet sealed around their respective edges. A tension point is formed by enlarging the seam area where a bend in the inflatable support member is desired. Alternate embodiments of the invention include structures including the inflatable support member. An alternate inflatable support member includes a first sheet and second sheet, the second sheet having an elasticity less than that of the first sheet by using different materials, additional materials or stretching the second sheet.
- In the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in all views:
-
FIG. 1 is a top view of an inflatable support member; -
FIG. 2 is an exemplary structure including inflatable support members; -
FIG. 3 is a side view of an inflatable support member in an alternate embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a top view of the inflatable support member ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of an inflatable support member in another embodiment; and -
FIG. 6 depicts the inflatable support member ofFIG. 5 inflated. -
FIG. 1 is a top view of aninflatable support member 10 in an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Theinflatable support member 10 includes afirst sheet 12 and asecond sheet 14 joined along the edges at aseam 16. Thefirst sheet 12 andsecond sheet 14 may be made from a plastic, thermoplastic or woven/non-woven material laminated with thermoplastic, etc.Seam 16 joining the two sheets may be formed by applying energy through heat pressing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding, impulse welding, etc. The sealedsheets way inlet 20 may be used to inflate theinflatable support member 10 and anoutlet valve 18 may be used to release fluid (e.g., air) from theinflatable support member 10. It is understood that a two-way valve may be used to provide inflation and deflation of theinflatable support member 10. - The
inflatable support member 10 includestension points seam 16 inwards towards a central, longitudinal axis of theinflatable support member 10. Thetension points seam 16 is formed by applying energy totension points first sheet 12 and thesecond sheet 14 attension points Tension points inflatable support member 10 and serve to constrict theinflatable support member 10 upon inflation by forming an area of reduced cross section alongline 24. This tension forms a bend region alongline 24. The tension points 22 and 22′ may be located at multiple locations along theinflatable support member 10 to control the shape of theinflatable support member 10 upon inflation. The tension points inFIG. 1 are shown as triangular but these points may be formed using any geometry. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary structure 100 formed using a plurality of theinflatable support members 10. As shown inFIG. 2 , theinflatable support members 10 include bends located at thebend line 24 co-linear with thetension points thermoplastic material 102 are secured to theinflatable support members 10 by joiningseam 16 to thepanels 102 by applying energy (heat, RF welding, ultrasonic welding). Of course, anentire panel 102 or an edge of a panel may be left unsealed to provide for entry into structure 100. Thepanels 102 may be transparent thermoplastic or other material. The structure may be of suitable size to contain a person to isolate the person from hazards or isolate others from the person (e.g., contagious disease). -
FIG. 3 is a side view andFIG. 4 is a top view of aninflatable support member 200 in an alternate embodiment of the invention.Inflatable support member 200 includes a plurality ofinflatable chambers 202 joined atseams 204.Chambers 202 are joined in a continuous fashion to define a closed structure as shown inFIG. 4 . Thechambers 202 andseams 204 may be formed by joining sheets of thermoplastic material (e.g., heat pressing, RF welding, ultrasonic welding). - The
chambers 202 may be inflated with any fluid (e.g., air, water, gel, compressed gas) through acommon inlet 212.Inter-chamber channels 210 provide fluid communication betweenchambers 202. Theinter-chamber channels 210 may be formed by applying a release coating to the thermoplastic sheets prior to joining the sheets. The release coating prevents adhesion of the sheets and definesinter-channel chambers 210. Alternatively, theinter-chamber channels 210 may be formed using a heat press having a pattern such that the thermoplastic sheets are not joined at the areas corresponding tointer-channel chambers 210. - In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 , thechambers 202 are arranged in a circle about alongitudinal axis 206. It is understood thatchambers 202 may be arranged in different shapes such a squares, ovals, ellipses, etc. The arrangement of the chambers aroundaxis 206 providesinflatable support member 200 with substantial strength along thelongitudinal axis 206, and significantly less strength along a lateral axis perpendicular toaxis 206. This rendersinflatable support member 200 useful in applications where lightweight, structural support is needed. -
FIGS. 5 and 6 depict another technique for producing aninflatable support member 300 with an arcuate shape to facilitate forming structures. Theinflatable support member 300 includes two sheets ofmaterial sheets Sheet 304 has an elasticity less than that ofsheet 302. The elasticity ofsheet 304 may be adjusted by pre-tensioning orstretching sheet 304 prior to sealingsheet 304 tosheet 302. As shown inFIG. 5 ,sheet 304 is stretched by a distance d. Alternatively,sheet 304 may be made from a material having an elasticity less than that ofsheet 302. Alternate methods may be used to provide different elasticity tosheet 304 including using materials with different durometers (second sheet has higher durometer than first sheet), using laminated materials, applying scrims to one or both of the first and second sheet, using oriented material with different stretch characteristics in different directions, etc. - When assembled, a
pump 306 is placed in fluid communication with the chamber defined bysheets Pump 306 is coupled to an inlet valve (e.g., one-way check valve) to the chamber defined bysheets sheet 304 allowssheet 302 to expand more thansheet 304 thereby creating an arcuate inflated support member. - The use of sheets having different elasticity as shown in
FIGS. 5 and 6 may be used alone or in combination with the tension points shown discussed with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2 to control the shape of the inflatable support member upon inflation. - Multiple inflatable support members may be coupled to define a support beam. The individual
inflatable support members - It is to be understood the preferred embodiments of this invention herein disclosed and illustrated are by way of illustration, and not limitation, and that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention.
Claims (14)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US11/070,677 US20050198741A1 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2005-03-02 | Inflatable support members and structures including the same |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US54973804P | 2004-03-02 | 2004-03-02 | |
US11/070,677 US20050198741A1 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2005-03-02 | Inflatable support members and structures including the same |
Publications (1)
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US20050198741A1 true US20050198741A1 (en) | 2005-09-15 |
Family
ID=34922155
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US11/070,677 Abandoned US20050198741A1 (en) | 2004-03-02 | 2005-03-02 | Inflatable support members and structures including the same |
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Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102021108891A1 (en) | 2021-04-09 | 2022-10-13 | X GLOO GmbH & Co. KG | support tube and tent |
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US2191374A (en) * | 1936-10-26 | 1940-02-20 | Dixon Henry Secretan | Collapsible pneumatic structure |
US2689812A (en) * | 1952-06-24 | 1954-09-21 | Us Rubber Co | Method of making inflatable fabric lined rubber articles |
US2742388A (en) * | 1954-06-18 | 1956-04-17 | Russell Reinforced Plastics Co | Reinforced plastic structural member |
US2743510A (en) * | 1953-10-19 | 1956-05-01 | Goodyear Tire & Rubber | Inflatable fabric segment of curved configuration and the method of making the same |
US3054124A (en) * | 1957-11-13 | 1962-09-18 | Silverstone Joseph | Inflatable structures |
US3137307A (en) * | 1960-06-02 | 1964-06-16 | Ralph N Jackson | Inflatable structural members |
US3332177A (en) * | 1965-05-18 | 1967-07-25 | Steinthal & Company Inc M | Inflatable structures |
US3716953A (en) * | 1970-05-05 | 1973-02-20 | A Moore | Light-weight, crashproof, tubular structure |
US3749133A (en) * | 1971-04-02 | 1973-07-31 | Frw Inc | Strain energy erectile tubular beam with stitched flanges |
US3807100A (en) * | 1971-08-16 | 1974-04-30 | Prod Specialties Inc | Building construction with elongated support member and interfitting panels |
US4027437A (en) * | 1975-11-26 | 1977-06-07 | The Mcmiah Corporation | Inflatable building |
US4076872A (en) * | 1977-03-16 | 1978-02-28 | Stephen Lewicki | Inflatable cellular assemblies of plastic material |
US4807405A (en) * | 1987-08-20 | 1989-02-28 | Borgquist Ronald B | Geodesic inflatable structure, and methods of constructing and utilizing same |
US5421128A (en) * | 1994-01-14 | 1995-06-06 | Sharpless; Garrett C. | Curved, inflated, tubular beam |
US6182398B1 (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2001-02-06 | A&P Technology, Inc. | Curved air beam |
US6282843B1 (en) * | 1998-04-03 | 2001-09-04 | Teijin Limited | Pneumatic structure |
US6463699B1 (en) * | 2001-03-23 | 2002-10-15 | Obi Corporation | Air beam construction using differential pressure chambers |
US20030019515A1 (en) * | 2001-07-05 | 2003-01-30 | Albert Fritzche | Pneumatic wall structure and a method of making and erecting same |
US6565405B2 (en) * | 2000-01-08 | 2003-05-20 | Intex Recreation Corp. | Interconnecting inflatable play structure |
US6860069B2 (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2005-03-01 | Benedict George Morris | Building component |
US20060059788A1 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2006-03-23 | Kassianoff Edouard P | Tensioned inflatable cover module |
US20070094937A1 (en) * | 2003-11-04 | 2007-05-03 | Mauro Pedretti | Pneumatic two-dimensional structure |
US20070175105A1 (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2007-08-02 | Remy Desbiens | Ready to assemble shelter |
US20070271854A1 (en) * | 2006-05-19 | 2007-11-29 | Johnson Outdoors Inc. | Catapult Air Beam With Permanently Affixed Laceloops |
US7335109B2 (en) * | 2004-06-04 | 2008-02-26 | Samuel Chen | Turbulent tassel chamber |
-
2005
- 2005-03-02 US US11/070,677 patent/US20050198741A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2191374A (en) * | 1936-10-26 | 1940-02-20 | Dixon Henry Secretan | Collapsible pneumatic structure |
US2689812A (en) * | 1952-06-24 | 1954-09-21 | Us Rubber Co | Method of making inflatable fabric lined rubber articles |
US2743510A (en) * | 1953-10-19 | 1956-05-01 | Goodyear Tire & Rubber | Inflatable fabric segment of curved configuration and the method of making the same |
US2742388A (en) * | 1954-06-18 | 1956-04-17 | Russell Reinforced Plastics Co | Reinforced plastic structural member |
US3054124A (en) * | 1957-11-13 | 1962-09-18 | Silverstone Joseph | Inflatable structures |
US3137307A (en) * | 1960-06-02 | 1964-06-16 | Ralph N Jackson | Inflatable structural members |
US3332177A (en) * | 1965-05-18 | 1967-07-25 | Steinthal & Company Inc M | Inflatable structures |
US3716953A (en) * | 1970-05-05 | 1973-02-20 | A Moore | Light-weight, crashproof, tubular structure |
US3749133A (en) * | 1971-04-02 | 1973-07-31 | Frw Inc | Strain energy erectile tubular beam with stitched flanges |
US3807100A (en) * | 1971-08-16 | 1974-04-30 | Prod Specialties Inc | Building construction with elongated support member and interfitting panels |
US4027437A (en) * | 1975-11-26 | 1977-06-07 | The Mcmiah Corporation | Inflatable building |
US4076872A (en) * | 1977-03-16 | 1978-02-28 | Stephen Lewicki | Inflatable cellular assemblies of plastic material |
US4807405A (en) * | 1987-08-20 | 1989-02-28 | Borgquist Ronald B | Geodesic inflatable structure, and methods of constructing and utilizing same |
US5421128A (en) * | 1994-01-14 | 1995-06-06 | Sharpless; Garrett C. | Curved, inflated, tubular beam |
US6182398B1 (en) * | 1997-11-21 | 2001-02-06 | A&P Technology, Inc. | Curved air beam |
US6282843B1 (en) * | 1998-04-03 | 2001-09-04 | Teijin Limited | Pneumatic structure |
US6565405B2 (en) * | 2000-01-08 | 2003-05-20 | Intex Recreation Corp. | Interconnecting inflatable play structure |
US6463699B1 (en) * | 2001-03-23 | 2002-10-15 | Obi Corporation | Air beam construction using differential pressure chambers |
US20030019515A1 (en) * | 2001-07-05 | 2003-01-30 | Albert Fritzche | Pneumatic wall structure and a method of making and erecting same |
US6860069B2 (en) * | 2002-04-12 | 2005-03-01 | Benedict George Morris | Building component |
US20070094937A1 (en) * | 2003-11-04 | 2007-05-03 | Mauro Pedretti | Pneumatic two-dimensional structure |
US7335109B2 (en) * | 2004-06-04 | 2008-02-26 | Samuel Chen | Turbulent tassel chamber |
US20060059788A1 (en) * | 2004-09-01 | 2006-03-23 | Kassianoff Edouard P | Tensioned inflatable cover module |
US20070175105A1 (en) * | 2005-12-23 | 2007-08-02 | Remy Desbiens | Ready to assemble shelter |
US20070271854A1 (en) * | 2006-05-19 | 2007-11-29 | Johnson Outdoors Inc. | Catapult Air Beam With Permanently Affixed Laceloops |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE102021108891A1 (en) | 2021-04-09 | 2022-10-13 | X GLOO GmbH & Co. KG | support tube and tent |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DIELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, INC., MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:EPSTEIN, ADAM S.;PEKAR, ROBERT W.;REEL/FRAME:016267/0627 Effective date: 20050321 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DIELECTRICS INDUSTRIES, INC., MASSACHUSETTS Free format text: RECORD TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY'S NAME, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 016267, FRAME 0627.;ASSIGNORS:EPSTEIN, ADAM S.;PEKAR, ROBERT W.;REEL/FRAME:016555/0382 Effective date: 20050321 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |